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My fingers drift toward my shoulder. The mark is hidden beneath the gown.

Still there.

Still refusing to fade.

Still mocking me every morning when I get dressed.

Whatever.

Tonight isn't about Grimm Palermo. Tonight is about my students. And me.

Maybe a little bit about how spectacular my boobs look in this dress.

A woman is allowed priorities.

“Professor Daniels!”

I turn.

Evangeline and Skye hurry toward me wearing matching masks, Evangeline in silver and Skye in midnight blue.

They stop dead.

Their mouths drop open.

“Whoa,” Skye says.

Evangeline grabs my hands.

“Professor Daniels! You look gorgeous.”

My cheeks warm.

“Thank you.”

“Seriously,” Skye says. “Like fairy-tale princess gorgeous.”

“Well, don't sound so shocked.”

“We're not!”

They both say it much too quickly. I narrow my eyes. They dissolve into giggles.

“Go,” I tell them. “Before I remember I'm supposed to be supervising you.”

“We love you, Professor Daniels!”

There it is again. That strange little warmth in my chest.

“Yeah, yeah. Go have fun.”

They disappear into the crowd.

I smile.

Maybe tonight won't suck after all.

For the next hour, I circulate.